Australia’s Bangladesh trip crucial for both nations

In recent weeks the floated Australian tour of Bangladesh appears to have come to fruition – and this is simply great news for a home side preparing to launch into yet another Ashes campaign.

Judging by the reports, the two Test series looks set to go ahead in late August of this year – a rescheduled tour after the debacle in late 2015 which saw that Bangladesh tour postponed for security reasons.

Thankfully, over 18 months later, it seems Australia will get some Test cricket in the nation after all. It feels like a lifetime ago when Australian cricket fans were blown away at the prospect of Andrew Fekete in a baggygreen.

That isn’t to suggest however that he wasn’t deserving at the time.

Forget that this tour is only two Tests, forget that it is against a lesser-known Test nation – this series is absolutely critical for Australia. Bangladesh have become anything but a minnow in international cricket in the last couple of years – mainly in the ODI circles – yet it’s only seven months ago they stung a quality English side by 108 runs in the Dhaka Test match.

While Bangladesh have never beaten Australia in a Test match and haven’t even competed in one against them since hosting the Aussies in 2006, they will sure bring a unique challenge this time that will have Australia very cautious.

It’s been 11 years since Australia battled the Bangladeshi outfit at test level, much remembered as the series Jason Gillespie somehow scored 200, batting for what felt like a week.

(AFP PHOTO/ Farjana K. GODHULY)

Had this series not in fact gone ahead as was feared, Australia would not have had any Test cricket between the final Test in India six weeks ago in March, and the first stanza of the Ashes at the Gabba. I think this preparation – albeit still a few months out from the Ashes – cannot be undersold in it’s importance.

It will give the Australians a much clearer picture on their playing XI, and might help answer some questions such as how many of the Marsh brothers will feature in the Ashes, both, one or none? Can Glenn Maxwell continue his blistering batting from the Indian tour and lock down the number six place for the home Ashes?

If just one primary spinner is sufficient for the Ashes, who will it be? In a way, this short series in August will reveal a lot about how Australia lines up in a bid to regain the urn.

Personally I felt that a few rounds of Sheffield Shield cricket would be a little on the low side for red-ball preparation, so it is a great relief to see this series actually go ahead. As is the case generally with playing in nations such as Bangladesh, security is never a sure thing, and so the series isn’t a definite yet, probably not until Australia hops on the plane; as we learned last time.

Hell, March to August is enough of a break from Test cricket alone, I cannot imagine how March to November would have felt! Here’s to looking forward to a highly necessary, and hopefully as highly competitive series in August.

The Crowd Says (39)

As Ashes preparation this tour is as useful as Tony Abbott is to the Liberal Party. The only interest would be to see if Warner is ‘rested’ from it. And of course it’d be a good giggle if UK were to be selected as a non-playing tourist again.

Fair go boys! It was the author who introduced the ‘preparation for the Ashes’ angle.
“I think this preparation – albeit still a few months out from the Ashes – cannot be undersold in it’s importance.”.

Bangladesh are developing a pretty decent test side and will be a tough challenge in their home conditions. Everyone talks about the Gillespie double-hundred in 2006, but the first test back then was actually rather close and the Bangladeshi’s had a serious chance to win it. They’re a much stronger side these days as well and the pitches should nullify our fast bowling strength to an extent that they will be right in the game.

As for Australia’s side, I wouldn’t expect too mmany surprises – they’ll stick with much the same formula as India. Marsh over Khawaja was a horses for courses selection, but given that they’ll almost certainly go back to Usman for the Ashes he’ll probably play here. The other real question is the second spinner – has O’Keefe’s off-field antics put the selectors off? If so, you’d probabliy expect an Agar to play – plus they’d love the extra batting depth. They also might play three fast bowlers, but that’s unlikely given the pitches they’ll probably get.

I wouldn’t mind seeing this side Ian, especially if Agar can put some numbers together in the opening shield rounds. However with Maxwell being a second spin option already (I understand that Smith recently has used him little, if at all) maybe Australia still needs a third paceman especially in Brisbane and Perth which you’d think Cummins is first in line for.

I reckon Nathan Lyon should be able to get a double century, if Jason Gillespie could. Similar style of batsman and similar quality. Or perhaps Hazlewood could get one instead. Anything less than that, and we can say that Bangladesh have improved.

Australia certainly did better in India than that same England team did. Still not a strength for Australia playing in those conditions, and there will be some challenges, but I would certainly expect Australia to win that series unless they go into it without focus and proper preparation with eyes already focused on the home ashes.

If this tour happens during the early rounds of the Shield then it will be a terrible bit of scheduling which again would show the lack of regard for the domestic game.

I am not against touring Bangladesh at all and if it happens in Sept before the Shield starts or even on the way to England even then we both show respect to Bangladesh as well as our own domestic comp. I would love to see us tour there and grow the game.

Not that I am a fan of the current one day comp and would rather it go back to a proper home and away comp with a final that goes over most of the season, even if it was just to actually get a form read on players on day form.

Rellum, yes, India again.
We didn’t play the ODIs and T20Is that normally go along with a Test series, this will be the make-up tour for that. The timing is somewhat unfortunate. Split tours seem to be a thing in India now, where the Tests are played separately to the limited overs forms. This is a waste just before a Test series, and Shield would be a better preparation.

I think this tour will be quite challenging for Australia as at home Bangladesh are a formidable team. Khwaja must be selected instead S Marsh and backup batsman can be Cartwright.keefe deserves another go so agar can be backup spinner. For fast bowling all big 4 can be selected.If there is India tour for limited overs then Smith can be rested plus the bowlers.want to give Warner a rest too but he hasn’t played a ODi in India(last series was also rested). Batting will look like: S Marsh(he can become cruical member in odis);Finch;head;Lynn(if fit);max; Cartwright; henriques; Turner (can be tried in slow Indian pitches);wade(c);zampa;agar/Swepson;ncn; behrendroff (although giving a debut in India can be cruel but he will gain a nice experience);K Richardson (did nothing wrong and was dropped from odis last season);Paris(if fit);stanlake;and one out of Jhye Richardson and Tremain can be considered.

We must be very careful not to take Bangladesh lightly. They are an improving side and their core has been together for a few years now. In home conditions they also have the world’s premier all rounder. I hope we have scheduled a warm up or two or taken up our Dubai option again.

Having said that, there might be some limited options for experimentation. We should persevere with Maxwell at 6 and this might be the chance to give him some bowling overs. I would love to see a Wade alternative trialled, but to be fair he did ok in India. And I would leave Stephen O’Keefe out and try either of the back ups from India, Agar or Swepson.

I agree. A hastily-arranged away series in Asia against a greatly-improved host while we’re preoccupied by an upcoming Ashes series is a recipe for an ambush. It’s crucial that we play our best XI and that their heads are in the game.

BG said: “It’s crucial that we play our best XI and that their heads are in the game.”

There’s now a distinct possibility that an inferior Oz side may go due to CA’s Board of Control like stance over the new MoU. CA/Sutherland have gone mad on this issue. The existing model has been in place for 20 years, it’s working, CA is financially healthy and CA haven’t actually given *any* reason why the players status should change from partners to employees. Everyone should be 100% with the players on this, even if it means no cricket.